Humans have been studying mental health for thousands of years. Ongoing developments in neuroscience, combined with more qualitative behavioral studies have made diagnosing and treating disorders more effective over time. While the role of the scientist is invaluable in understanding the human brain, many experts continue to refer to the animal kingdom for insights on how humans might better cope with stress, trauma, and shock so severe as to lead to diagnosable mental illness.

Before you can act as a leader in your career, you have to be seen as one. A great leader encourages their employees in every way possible. Read on to find a few tips on being seen as a leader almost instantaneously.

For 8-year-old Hope Laliberte, having leg braces have been a constant reminder of her current mobile disabilities. The young girl has been wearing leg braces for the past four years, due to cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Though she's able to live a fun life with her twin sister, the braces can stick out as a sore reminder of her health issues. And for something so personal, the leg braces she received from Boston's Children's Hospital were an impersonal plain pink, due to the limited designs offered from the clinic.

Autism is a developmental disorder that doesn't go away when a child reaches adulthood. Unfortunately, due to federal laws, autistic children and their parents grow accustomed to services provided by the public school system that go away when the child turns 21. NBC News' Kate Snow writes, "Parents of children facing this situation compare it to falling off a cliff."

When measuring our productivity, we usually look at how we used our time for valuable, important endeavors. A lack of productivity is usually determined when we have "wasted" time on things that are meaningless, such as too much email checking, or time scrolling mindlessly through Facebook or Twitter. However, there is something you can easily exchange that time with to something more meaningful: volunteering. And with the growth of technology and improved Internet connections, it's now a lot easier to volunteer your time virtually.

With Jon Stewart's The Daily Show coming to a close after 16 years, Jon Stewart knew he wanted to go out with an impactful bang. Through a partnership with Omaze, a charity fundraising company, Stewart had fans donate $10 or more in order to get their names entered in a raffle. The raffle winner would then get to attend the final taping of the show, meet the host, and visit the set.

For people who are born deaf, there are few procedures that are used to help them hear. The most common procedure uses a cochlear implant, which sends signals to the nerves in our ears and brain that allow us to hear. But not everyone finds success with cochlear implants, due to the fact that some people do not have a thick enough connection between their cochlea and the brainstem. For a long time, speech therapy and hearing therapy was limited to cochlear implants and sign language--until now.

Critical feedback, whether you are receiving it or giving it, is important for self-improvement. But how can you give feedback in an effective way, or receive feedback that you don't necessarily believe in? Here are some great tips for receiving criticism while making sure your own comments get heard.

You don't have to be a trained physician to be able to respond to a person who is choking, or who has stopped breathing. Many people learn CPR and the Heimlich maneuver as part of basic first aid training. There is a movement to develop similar training for sudden mental and emotional health distress as well.

Whether you work in a small office or a large company, managing relationships with old colleagues and current co-workers is an important job. On top of managing daily tasks, social meetings, and home life, it can be hard to feel like you're getting anywhere. Here's a list of 5 productive things to add to your to-do list, inspired by a list from CEO of Careerealism Media, J.T. O-Donnell. Committing to these suggestions will help you feel more accomplished and inspired by your work.

For stroke patients suffering with aphasia, speech therapy is an important practice in helping patients regain their ability to speak. The challenge however, comes from the inability to get adequate time with a therapist: due to mobility limitations of a patient and the schedules of therapists stretched thin, a therapist might have trouble scheduling enough time with their patient, either at their own office or the home of the patient. The strains that come from the inaccessibility of therapy for the patient might lead to decreased quality of life for the patient, who could be struggling with unemployment, depression, and frustration from their limited speech abilities.

One of the things that many people miss most as they age is the companionship of pets. Most people in nursing homes have had beloved pets at various times in their lives and they miss the constant companionship and unconditional love they provide.